Henley Passport Index (Oct 2026) – India 84th; visa-free access to 55 destinations
16-10-2026 · English
Topics: Indices & Reports · 16 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
In the Henley Passport Index released in October 2026 by London-based Henley & Partners, the Indian passport ranks 84th (tied with Algeria and Mauritania). Indians can reach 55 destinations without a prior visa (visa-free / visa-on-arrival). That is one place up from 85th in Oct 2025, though destinations fell from 57 to 55. India's 2026 positions: January 80, February 75, May 78, July 81, October 84. Singapore is first with 193 destinations; Japan, South Korea and the UAE (188) are second; the USA is 10th (180).
Key facts
| Publisher | Henley & Partners (London); Oct 2026 edition; updated quarterly |
| Data | International Air Transport Association (IATA) – Timatic database; 199 passports, 227 destinations |
| India | 84th (tied with Algeria, Mauritania); 55 destinations |
| Top | Singapore – 193; Japan, South Korea, UAE – 188; Sweden – 187 |
| Others | USA 10th (180); UK 6th (184); Afghanistan last in the earlier 2026 editions |
Background
- History: Christian Kaelin started it in 2005 as the 'Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index'; it was renamed the 'Henley Passport Index' in January 2018. It uses IATA's Timatic data plus the firm's own research.
- Polity / law: Indian passports are issued under the Passports Act, 1967; the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is responsible. In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978), the Supreme Court held that the right to travel abroad is part of personal liberty under Article 21.
- Sci-tech: Passport Seva Programme 2.0 (PSP V2.0) went live on 26 May 2025 across 37 Passport Offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendras and 450 Post Office PSKs; GPSP V2.0 for missions abroad followed on 28 Oct 2025. The e-passport carries an RFID chip and antenna storing biometric data to ICAO standards.
Tamil Nadu link: Tamil Nadu has four Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) – Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore. Passport strength matters directly to the many Tamils who travel to the Gulf, Singapore and Malaysia for work and travel.
Source: Business Today (14 Oct 2026); GKToday (16 Oct 2026); News24 (15 Oct 2026); Wikipedia – Henley Passport Index; Business Today (13 Nov 2025 – PSP 2.0)
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